The document summarizes field observations around Lake Tahoe, including the geology of the lake basin, local plants and animals. Lake Tahoe was formed 5-10 million years ago when faulting created the basin, which filled with water 2 million years ago after a lava barrier formed. Today it is over 1500 feet deep and home to 63 streams and the American black bear, which has become accustomed to humans after wildfires destroyed habitat. Field observations included identifying greenleaf manzanita, lodgepole pine, igneous granite rock and metamorphic phyllite rock.

1. Field Study Exploring Lake Tahoe

3. The Tahoe basin was formed by faulting around 5-10 million years ago.

4. Around 2million years ago, lava from Mt. Pluto formed a barrier across the northeast outlet, Lake Tahoe filled with water from different rivers and streams.

5. During the pleistocene, large glaciers grew in surrounding areas of Lake Tahoe. This caused the forming of U-shaped valleys (Emerald Bay and Fallen Leaf, among others)

6. Lake Tahoe is 22 miles long and 12 miles wide with 72 miles of shoreline

7. Lake Tahoe's greatest depth is 1,592 ft.

8. Average elevation is 6225 ft.

9. 63 stream flow into the lake, but only the Truckee River (pictured here) flows out .(tahoebest.com.)

11. American Black Bear So. Lake Tahoe is home to many different animals, among these animals is the American Black Bear. Bears frequent residential areas and have become accustomed to humans. Frequency of bear sightings has increased since much their natural habitat was destroyed in the Angora fire of 2007.

12. Black Bear- Scientific name: Ursus Americanus Fossil records show that bears most likely evolved from canidae. Bears are more closely related to dogs than any other animal. Kingdom — AnimaliaPhylum — Chordata Class — Mammalia Order — Carnivora Family — Ursidae Genus — Ursus Species — americanus (americanbear.org)

14. Description—evergreen shrub, grows to about 3 ft’ tall with oval shaped leaves

15. Group—dicot

16. Family--ericaceae

17. Found in well drained rocky slopes

19. I believe this is a Lodgepole pineScientific name—Pinuscontorta Douglas ex Louden Kingdom Plantae – Plants Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants SuperdivisionSpermatophyta – Seed plants Division Coniferophyta – Conifers Class Pinopsida Order Pinales Family Pinaceae – Pine family Genus Pinus L. – pine Species Pinuscontorta Douglas ex Louden – lodgepole pine Description—Evergreen tree, grows around 13 to 16 ft’ Group—gymnosperm 76 different species

20. Igneous rock—crystallized from hot molten rock I believe this rock to be granite. Composition group—sialic Granite’s texture is coarse and grainy. The light color comes from the light shaped minerals such as quartz and feldspar (GEL 103 Lecture Notes, 2011)

21. Metamorphic—rocks changed by heat, pressure or chemical activity I believe that this rock may be phyllite. Phyllite is mainly made up of fine grained mica, traces of garnet may be present. Phyllite is intermediate in grade. It comes from the metamorphism of shale. (GEL 103 Lecture Notes, 2011)

22. References Evolution and taxonomy of the black bear. (n.d.). In The American bear association. Retrieved July 18, 2011, from http://www.americanbear.org/Evolution%20-%20Taxonomy.htm GEL 103 Lecture Notes, 2011 Graff, M. (1999). Plants of the Tahoe basin; Flowering plants, trees, and ferns (First ed., pp. 72-73). Sacramento, CA: California Native Plant Society Press. Plants profile. (n.d.). In United States department of agriculture. Retrieved July 18, 2011, from http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ARCTO3 The geological history of the Lake Tahoe basin. (n.d.). In Tahoe Cam. Retrieved July 17, 2011, from http://www.tahoecam.com/tahoefacts.html